Gives BackProtecting Brevard
From COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccine
Update as of May 28, 2021
Health First has received a limited supply of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to be administered to individuals 12 years of age and older, as directed by the State of Florida.
The following documentation will be required at the time of vaccine administration:
Adults
- Government issued identification
Minors
A parent or legal guardian must:
- Be in attendance with the Minor for the vaccine administration and remain at the side of the Minor during the entire duration of the vaccination.
- Sign any and all consent forms for the vaccine administration.
- Health First Family Pharmacy - Gateway located at 1223 Gateway Dr. Melbourne, FL 32901
- Health First Family Pharmacy - Viera located at 8725 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL 32940.
PLEASE NOTE: A parent or legal guardian must be in attendance with Minors for vaccine administration and remain at the side of the Minor during the entire duration of both first and second dose vaccinations.
First Dose COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
First dose vaccinations have relocated from Health First Medical Rehabilitation located at 611 E Sheridan Rd., Second Floor, Melbourne, FL 32901 to:
Individuals with scheduled appointments will be prioritized, however, walk-ins are welcomed for first dose vaccinations during the clinic hours below and will be accommodated when vaccine availability allows.
Health First Family Pharmacy Vaccine Clinic Hours:
Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Locations:
Health First Family Pharmacy
1223 Gateway Dr.
Melbourne, FL 32901
Health First Family Pharmacy
8725 N. Wickham Rd.
Melbourne, FL 32940
Viera Hospital Medical Plaza
Second Dose COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
Please note that if you received a first dose vaccine at Health First Medical Rehabilitation, you should return to this location to receive your second dose at your scheduled appointment on or before Friday, June 18. After June 18, please visit our Health First Family Pharmacy locations at Gateway or Viera.
If you have any questions or if you need to reschedule an appointment, please email vaccine@HF.org or call 321.434.7355 (press 7).
Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
A parent or legal guardian must:
1. Be in attendance with the Minor for the vaccine administration and remain at the side of the Minor during the entire duration of the vaccination.
2. Sign any and all consent forms for the vaccine administration.
Per CDC guidance, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. Further information can be found on the CDC Website. At Health First, a mask must be worn and remain on inside all Health First locations and spaces, including patient rooms.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are similar and use a new (and what appears to be more effective) technology to produce antibodies to the spike protein of the virus internally rather than injecting the antigen directly, such as with the influenza vaccine. Both vaccines require a second dose separated by three or four weeks, respectively. Further information can be found on the CDC Website.
Download the COVID-19 Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet
Data from the clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine both showed an approximate 95% effectiveness in prevention of the COVID-19 illness. That makes them among the most effective vaccines for any infectious disease. Further information can be found on the CDC Website.
The vaccines are available to our community at no cost. As a not-for-profit, Health First is a community-owned healthcare system. There are no shareholders, and any incomes above revenues received for care are invested back into our facilities to improve and upgrade services to better care for our community. As a charitable organization, Health First hospitals care for everyone in our community who need our services, including those who cannot pay for their care.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The CDC recommends you get a vaccine as soon as you can. Further information can be found on the CDC Website.
You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects. The most common are pain, redness and swelling at the injection site as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, or nausea throughout the rest of the body. Data from the clinical trials indicate that if there are side effects, they are short-lived in patients that report them. Because of the rare potential of an allergic reaction, as with any vaccine, we will observe recipients for a short period after receiving the vaccine. And, of course, at Health First, we have the most qualified staff to manage any side effects. Further information can be found on the CDC Website.
Health First is diligently working to ensure we have not only the staffing but the facilities to care for patients when or if COVID-19 cases rise. While ICU numbers are updated daily and tend to fluctuate, the community should be reassured that we remain ready to serve the community by protecting patients and the general public from the spread of infectious diseases.
The only absolute contraindication is a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of the vaccine. Anyone with a history of multiple or significant allergic reactions to medications may wish to consider declining the vaccine until further information is available about safety in this group.
If you had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after getting the first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC recommends that you not get a second shot of that vaccine. Further information can be found on the CDC Website.
Yes, if you are pregnant, you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Health First recommends you have a conversation with your healthcare provider to help you decide whether to get vaccinated.
If you are pregnant and have received a COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC encourages you to enroll in v-safe, CDC's smartphone-based tool that provides personalized health check-ins after vaccination. A v-safe pregnancy registry has been established to gather information on the health of pregnant people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Further information can be found on the CDC Website.
People with cancer or an underlying medical conditions can receive a COVID-19 vaccine as long as they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Health First recommends you have a conversation with your healthcare provider to help you decide whether to get vaccinated. Further information on the vaccines can be found on the CDC Website.
COVID-19 Testing
We offer free COVID-19 testing to the public and our associates at select locations. For more information and to schedule a testing appointment, please call the Scheduling Office at 321.434.3131.
COVID-19 Symptoms
Common symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, with severity ranging from mild to severe illness. Other common signs of infection include runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, a loss of sense of smell for some patients, and a general feeling of being unwell. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please utilize our free COVID-19 Symptom Checker tool at the bottom of the page to determine what type of care you need.
Help Stop the Spread
COVID-19 Information Line
Health First now offers a free COVID-19 Information Line. Call 321.434.3636, to access general COVID-19 information as well as get connected to a variety of Health First facilities and services.
Visiting a Health First Facility
Your safety is our top priority. If you have a procedure or test scheduled, we are open, safe and happy to welcome you. Virtual Visits are also available for primary care and a number of specialties. Please contact the scheduling office at 321.434.3131 to confirm or schedule an appointment.
Universal Masking Policy
Health First has adopted a universal masking policy to give our patients and associates an added layer of protection not only from COVID-19, but any airborne illness. This policy requires all who come through our doors to wear face masks.
Visitor Guidelines
To protect our patients and their loved ones, we have updated our visitation policy at our hospitals to ensure the safest possible environment.
Click HERE for the latest visitor guidelines.